Atomizer



(NOM-klel.)

-T. J. HOLMES. ATOMIZBR.

No. 882,878.` Patented Jan; 22, 1895.

TH: Nonms PETERS co, morumfuo.. wAsHmmcN. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lTHOMAS JQHOLMES, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I'

ATOM'IZER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,878, dated January22, 1895.

' Application tiled August 23,1893. Serial No. 483,865. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: r .e

Beit known that I, THOMAS J. HOLMES, of Lexington, Middlesex county,Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inAtomizers, dac., ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspeci'lication, in which- Figure 1 represents a Vertical section throughthe center of an atomizer having my improvements applied thereto, andscrewed into the metal cap thereof. Fig. 2 shows the application of myinvention to a cork or other stopper which may be of such size as to litinto the mouth of any bottle and can be utilized with other forms ofatomizers than that represented in Fig. l; Fig. 3, my improvementsapplied to a metal cap screwed'over or outside of the top of a bottlehaving a screw thread formed integral with the glass of which it iscomposed. Fig. at represents, turned down on its side, the atomizershown in Fig. 1 having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 5, detail,representing my improvements enlarged.

When atomizers of the present constructiony (whether of the vacuum orpressure class) are inverted by accident or otherwise so as to occupyother than a normal position, the liquid contents of their receptaclesare free to escape therefrom, as there is an open passage through whichit can flow either to the out side of the receptacles away from theatomizers, or into the air-tube or air-bulb, all of which are well knownserious objections. To provide an atomizer of such construction thatwill contain a sufticient quantity of liquid for general use, and fromwhich atomizer, when inverted, the contents of the liquid receptacleproper are prevented from escaping; 11. e., to prevent the escape of allof the liquid except the very small quantity which, previous to theinversion of the atomizer may be located in the liquid or atomizing tubeand also the small quantity which may be located in an atomizer nozzle(should a nasal tube be employed) is the object of this invention whichconsists in a tube which surrounds the ordinary liquid or atomizing tubeand extends down into the bottle; said outer or inclosingtube being ofsuch length that its base will not project down into the bottle belowthe mathematical center or center of gravity of the liquid contentswhich the bottle is capable of holding; the predetermined maximumquantity of liquid, however to be supplied to the bottle (for conversioninto spray) when in its normal position-never rising as high as thelevelof the base of the said outer tube, and therefore never standing as highas said base in any position of the bottle; said outer tube beingdenominated by me a liquid guard tube which `also lforms a peculiarlysimple and .necessary vent, which, during the manipulation of the airbulb permits of the desired ejection of the liquid spray, as well as areturn passage into the bottle (when in its normal position) for theminute quantity of surplus liquid which would be formed in a nozzle,were one employed, and which liquid may not have been dischargedtherefrom during the manipulation of the air bulb, although ejected fromthe liquid atomizing point.

In Fig. l of the said drawings A represents the bottle in which islocated the liquid to be converted into'spray; d, a metal cap securedaround its mouth.

b is a tapering nasal tube provided with a screw thread c of smallerdiameter at its base, and by which it isy turned down within a thread inthe cap and is seated on an annular shoulder d formed within and nearits top, a washer e being interposed to insure a liquid tight joint.Beneath the screw thread c and connected with the base of the nasal tubeb is a downwardly projecting tube B which is the principal feature of myinvention and which for reasons hereinafter explained I designate aliquid guard tube. This guard tube B surrounds the ordinary liquidatomizing tube h and between them is formed aspace 1l (circular in crosssection) extending from the base of the guard tube to its top where itunites with the base of the nasal tube.. This turbe h extends down tonear the bottom of the bottle and is tapered and reduced in diameter atits top, being screwed into a boss or plug c' located inside the base ofthe nozzle b and projecting a little above the annular shoulder Z (inthe base of the nozzle) surrounding it'; the diameter of this boss atthe top of the liquid tube being less than-that of the surroundingportion of the nasal tube, thus formn g a space l2 (circular in crosssection); the two spaces 11 and 12 constituting a continuouspassagewhich answers the very necessary purpose of a vent to permit ofthe ejection of the liquid from the bottle when it is to be convertedinto spray by the manipulation of an air bulb; and also serves as areturn passage for the surplus liquid whichl is discharged in the nasaltube after being ejected from the atomizing point. The top of the bossis provided with a central orifice m which constitutes said sprayforming or atomizing point.

n is an air tube, the inner end of which passes through the nasal tube(substantially at right angles thereto) and screws into the boss 'i andopens into a chamber 19 between its interior and the outside of thetapering portion of the liquid tube h, by which construction the liquidtube is supported in position by the air tube, the latter having at itsouter end an ordinary air-forcing bulb C, the air tube being formed ofthe usual straight and curved portions for convenience in manipulation.

The construction of the boss fz, liquid tube h and air tube n beingreadily understood from the drawings (see Fig. 5), Iwill now explain themanner of putting them together to properly locate the atomizing pointrelative to the top of the liquid tube and inner end of the air tube.

The central opening in the top of the boss i forming said atomizingpoint m communicates with the larger opening or air chamber p below itand surrounds the top of the contracted end of the `liquid tube h,whereby when air is forced into the chamber p it is caused to escapeupward around the top of the liquid tube and to impinge upon the liquidj ets ascending therein, converting them into spray as desired. Beforeeither the air tube or the liquid tube is bent, the boss is screwed uponthe latter and both are then dropped into the base of the nozzle (nasaltube) b. The air tube is then passed through the hole in the side of thenozzle and turned tightly into the boss fi, which operation forces thelatter against the opposite wall of the air and return passage 12, afterwhich the boss is conducted back into the center of said passage, andthe air tube is soldered to the nasal tube b, which thus preserves itinits normal or working position. The length of this guard tube B and theexact location of its bottom within a receptacle must be carefullydetermined by experiment and consequently it is particularly necessarythat the precise location of the mathematical liquid center or center ofgravity of the full quantity of the liquid which each bottle willaccommodate, should be correctly ascertained, for in bottles ofdifferent sizes or of same capacity but of difterent forms this centralor balancing point varies, being higher up in a bottle larger at its topthan at its bottom, and lower down in a bottle larger at its bottom.After having determined this point of equilibrium or center of gravityof all of the liquid which can be poured into a bottle, the guard tubeemployed therein must be of such length as to project down to saidpoint, while the quantity of liquid to be supplied thereto forconversion into spray must not occupy a position above said point or inother words not above the bottom of the guard tube when the atomizer isready for use and in `an upright position. Consequently no liquid canescape from the bottle after ithas been inverted for the reason that theliquid never stands above the open base in the guard tube.

My guard tube is applicable to other forms of atomizers than thoseprovided with nasal tubes, and with equally good results.

I am aware that atomizers of the general character herein described andshown, are old and well known. I am also aware that an atomizerattachment has been made com; prising an interior tube for conveying theliquid, and an exterior tube for receiving the air, the latter coveringthe former throughout its entire length, essentially for the purpose ofprotecting the same from breakage; and being provided besides with sideopenings near its top for the escape of air laterally, as illustrated,for instance, in Patent No. 483,546, to which inventionAhowever, I makeno claim; but

What I do claim as new wit-h me, and which I desire to protect byLetters Patent, is

l. In an atomizer of the character specified, the combination with theliquid conveying tube h, -of the imperforate guard tube B, looselysurrounding the same, and extending downward into close proximity to thecenter of gravity of the space of the interior of the liquid holdingreceptacle, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposeset forth.

2. In an atomizer of the character specified, the combination with thetube h, with its atomizing point m, and the boss i, of the looselysurrounding imperforate guard tube B, with its nasal tube extension b,forming together the passage ways 11-12 the latter named constitutingrespectivelya passage IOC IIC

for air to aid in the ejection and conversion e passage Ways, 1l-12 andextending doWntentional, inversion or overturning of the Io ward intoclose proximity to the center of bottle, all as specified.

gravity of the interior space of the bottle, sub- Witness my hand this17 th day of August, stantiallyas described and shown; whereby 1893. v

the liquid not converted into spray is event- 1 muy returned to thebott1e,and, the liquid rlHOMAS J' HOLMES' originally placed in the sameor any portion In presence ofof it remaining therein, absolutelyprevented N. W. STEARNS,

from leakage, either by the accidental, or in- EDWARD J. JONES.

